Improvement in fumigating apparatus for exterminating insects



0 MUELLER Fumigating Apparatus for Exterminating Insects.

No. 213,235 Patented Mar. 11,1379.

N.FEFERS, F'MOYO l-ITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITE STATES PATENT FFIGE.

ONNO MUELLER, OF LA GRANGE, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FUMIGATING APPARATUS FOR EXTERMINATING INSECTS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,235, dated March 11, 1879 application filed September 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ONNo MUELLER, of La Grange, in the county of Fayette and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insect- Exterminators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through my improvement, showing its respective parts. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the fire-pit bottom plate or tube. Fig. 3is a similar view of the gas-conducting tube, with one end covered with a perforated plate; and Fig. 4 is alike view of one of the conoidalheaded covers for the ant or insect holes, whose surface is perforated and provided with points or pegs for securing the same in a fixed position over said holes.

The same part in the several figures is denoted by the same letter.

This invention relates to certain improvements in insectexterminators and it consists of a number of communicating chambers connected together, two of them by a tube, and having an inverted-V-shaped perforated plate 5 and, secondly, in the employment, in connection with these chambers, of perforated cone or dome shaped caps covering the entrances to the ant-passages, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings, A A A refer to three trenches made in the groundg-one the chamber to which is connected a bellows or airpumping apparatus the middle one, A whose sides taper or converge downwardly toward its bottom, the fire-pit, or chamber, and the third a chamber or hole made at a point embracing two or more or several entrances to as many ant=nests. These trenches or excavations may be made of varying dimensions, as shown.

In the lower part of the dividing-partition a, between the air-chamber A'and the fire-pit or chamber A, is a passage or tube, B, which serves as a passage-way for the air to the fire blown through the same by a bellows or air apparatus suitably connected with the firstnamed chamber. This tube also prevents the caving in of and the stopping up of said passage-way by the dirt or earth.

In the narrow bottom of the fire-pit or chamber A -is disposed lengthwise therewith an in verted-V-shaped tube or plate, 0, having its flaring portions provided with apertures or perforations c c for the passage from said tube of the air entering the same through the passage-way or tube B into the fire-pit, and thence in contact with the fire built in the latter. Sulphur or other poisonous substance is thrown into the combustible matter, and its fumes or gas carried off by the inrushin g air through a second tube, D, placed in the dividing-wall between the fire-chamber A and the ant-nest hole or ditch A and thence through the perforated covered heads or caps E placed over the entrances to the ant-nests, which fumes or gas will destroy or exterminate the ants or insects.

By converging or tapering the side walls of the fire-pit or chamber, it will act to feed the coal to the fire and concentrate the fuel, and thus thoroughly consume the same without the usual waste. The tube 0 also serves to prevent the choking up of the air-passage tube B at that end next to the fire-pit.

To prevent the ashes, &c., entering and passing through the tube D into the chamber A it is covered with a perforated plate, d. which also serves to hold it in a fixed position.

The ant-hole entrance covers or heads E are conoidal in shape and perforated, by which construction the ashes or other extraneous particles blown or coming in contact there with will be precipitated therefrom, and thus be prevented from entering theholes therein with the air. These covers or caps are also provided with points or pegs e c for securing them in a fixed position over the ant hole or nest entrances.

I am aware that simply perforated ordinary plates have been used for covering the en trances to the ant-passages 5 but these are ob jectionable, in that they are not provided with any means to throw ofl' or deflect extraneous particles or ashes that may be blown upon said plates, which particles or ashes if al lowed to accumulate thereon, as would be the case in the use of said plates, would obstruct the smoke-passages in said plates.

The trenches A A A are covered with metal plates F, having inspection openings 'f in them. to inspect the trenches Without the removal of said plates, and Whose openings may also be covered and their edges well packed with earth to prevent the escape of air at those points. The trench or excavation A is to be only sufticiently deep to confine and serve as a conductor for the noxious and poisonous gases to the ant-holes Without interfering with the ants or their nests.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of the communicating chambers AA A connected together, two of them by a tube, B, and the inverted-V-shaped perforated plate 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the communicating chambers A A A one having perforated cone or dome shaped caps E, covering the entrances to the ant-passages, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixcd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ONNO MUELLER.

WVitnesses:

FREDRERICH 0. STREITHOFF, ALPHONSE J ROSENTHAL. 

